Victron Energy: New EMC test facility

You can be forgiven for thinking that Victron Energy have moved into the aviation business, however there is a connection. This is an anechoic chamber – similar to that which Victron Energy have now built.

Where is it and what does it do?

The new facility is at Victron’s Groningen premises. It is a fully enclosed Faraday cage with absorbing tiles all around. A Victron Energy Quattro inverter/charger and Victron Lithium batteries are shown in the new facility below.

N.B. The Quattro shown is the new 15kVA version, more about that and the latest 300Ah Lithium batteries as the information becomes available…

The new facility allows Victron to carry out their own EMC tests, both radiated and immunity. The EMC chamber is calibrated and certified so that tests performed there can be used for Victron product development – and it is now almost fully commissioned and ready for use.

This facility is a specific type of anechoic chamber, referred to as semi-anechoic. You can read more detail about these types of chambers and how they relate to radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing here.

EMC chamber construction

The images below show the Groningen building being extended to house the new EMC facility.

Pile driving begins.

Piles for the foundations in place.

The new EMC facility integrated into the rear of the Groningen building.

An engineer calibrating the EMC chamber.

Inside the EMC chamber during calibration.

Conclusion

Victron’s new EMC chamber represents a significant and worthwhile development for the company and whilst they might not build fighter aircraft –  it is reassuring to note that similar values to product testing and quality apply.

John Rushworth

Credit: The Wikimedia Commons image shown in the headline is a F-16 Fighting Falcon.